Kristian Garic

Kristian: Loomis says Saints willing to move in draft

by Kristian Garic,posted Apr 23 2013 4:44PM

Saints GM Mickey Loomis spoke with reporters today in his annual pre-draft press conference. Loomis opened our live broadcast in the brand-new Saints Media Facility by joking, “I guess this is the deal where you guys ask me questions, and I do the best I can not to answer them.“

Exploring all options: With the team less than 48 hours away from the start of the NFL Draft, the team is exploring just about every option. “I think we would say it’s a deep draft, there is a couple of positions that we think are deeper than others…probably defensively at corner, and the D-line positions.” Loomis said. “But there’s good players all the way through this draft, so we’re excited to get five new guys in here, and get them started, and select some guys who are going to be contributors to our team.”

Loomis dismissed the notion the team has been more active this year trying to recoup some draft picks. (The Saints don’t have a 2nd or 7th round pick this year). “No, I wouldn’t say we’ve been more active….Obviously we don’t have a second round pick. We’d like to have one, particularly this is a year where it would be really good to have a second-round pick. But, we haven’t been more active because of that,” Loomis told us. “Those kinds of deals where you’re trading back and picking up selections are going to happen on the clock for the most part.”

The Saints GM explained they have about 15 players graded as “first round picks” with as many as 40 to 50 players graded as second round picks.

On moving up or down: The Saints are pretty much smack dab in the middle of Round 1 (15th overall). Loomis said the decision on whether to move back in the first round, if it happens, probably won’t happen until the Saints are on the clock.

“I think we would be willing to move back, but there is a point where we don’t want to go too far; and same thing with moving forward. There is probably a group of 10-12 teams on either side of that I will touch base with. “

Loomis added the Saints won’t move back just for the sake of acquiring an extra pick.

“It’s going to be predicated on who is available to us, and who could we select if we move back, who we think we can select if we move back…versus just trying to get another pick."

Blind side: At the league owners’ meetings earlier in the spring, Coach Sean Payton said the left tackle spot after losing Jermon Bushrod in free agency is a position that is “wide open” and it keeps him awake at night. Today, Loomis said the team will pay attention to that position in the draft.

“Look, we’ve got Charles Brown and Jason Smith competing there, and we’ve got some other young players in our building…and so, we’ve got competition there. Clearly, we don’t have a name on that magnet at starting left tackle yet…But we can only select what’s available to us in the draft, or what’s available to us in a veteran player. We’ll pay attention to that player.

Chris Ivory: The Saints currently have five running backs on the roster. Previously restricted free agent Chris Ivory (who signed his tender a couple of days ago) has been the subject of trade talks leading up to the draft. The New York Jets are reportedly interested in landing the bruising running back, but according to Loomis, so are a few other teams.

“We’ve had discussions with other teams as well, (but) there is no deal imminent.”

Loomis explained the trade discussions centered on the team’s strength in numbers at the position.

I never understood why the Saints kept so many RB's on the roster last season. It's a given that they all can't see ample playing time. Mark Ingram will get better if we can feed him the ball more.

04/23/2013 11:38PM

In 2011 all our RB's were injured costing us a playoff victory.

In 2011, all of the Saints RB's were injured costing the Saints a playoff victory. The Saints had a chance to address those injuries by trading for Marshawn Lynch. Seattle got him and Coach Payton admitted he should have done something about RB before the trade deadline had passed. You keep as many versatile RB's as possible on your roster.

04/25/2013 2:36PM

2 players that might be traded

Look for Ellis or Ivory to be traded to acquire more draft choices. I don't think Ellis can be a nose tackle in the 3-4 and Ivory can be traded for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

04/26/2013 7:29AM

Kristians Mock Draft was ...

No LSU players wers going to be picked in the 1st 15 picks of the 1st rd and the Saints were going to pick a wide receiver according to Kristian's mock draft ...nice call.